Hypoallergenic food has become an extremely popular topic because dogs suffer more and more often from food allergies.
Hypoallergenic diets are created especially for those dogs suffering from food intolerances or allergies. There are two large categories of hypoallergenic dog food produced:
- Food with hydrolyzed proteins - by hydrolyzing the proteins, the stimulation of the immune system is prevented, thus reducing and/or preventing an allergic reaction.
- Food with new protein sources - refers to protein sources to which the dog and its ancestors have not been exposed, such as game meat, fish, beef, or insects.
But hypoallergenic food is not only beneficial for dogs with health problems but also for those that do not suffer from any illness.
Why feed hypoallergenic dog food?
Hypoallergenic food contains all the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your dog needs and at the same time, it protects your pet from allergies.
Hypoallergenic diets are prepared from good quality, nutritious, and easily digestible ingredients and have added vitamins and minerals for the health of the immune system. For these reasons, more and more dog owners choose to feed their four-legged friends with such diets as prevention, even if their pets do not show any symptoms. In other words, hypoallergenic food has many benefits for your pet’s body, being an exceptional diet for all dogs, not just for those with health problems.
What are the benefits of feeding your dog a hypoallergenic diet?
Allergy is a condition that will not go away, but it can be kept under control with a special diet.
Once you introduce hypoallergenic food into your dog's menu, after a short time, you should notice a change for the better in its health. Since it does not contain any allergenic ingredients, this type of food will stabilize your dog's body and help it recover.
Overall, hypoallergenic food reduces the risk of:
- Obesity
- Ear infections
- Colitis
- Blockage of the anal glands
- Heart disease
- Itchy skin
- Dry skin
- Dermatitis
- Digestive disorders
Hypoallergenic dog food not only ameliorates allergic reactions and associated symptoms but can also reduce hair loss and improve the appearance of your dog's coat, making it shinier.
How to choose the best hypoallergenic food?
If you want to start feeding your dog a hypoallergenic diet, you have to take into account several variables, such as age and weight. Depending on your pet's age, hypoallergenic foods are divided into two large categories: puppy hypoallergenic food and adult dogs hypoallergenic food.
Whether it is for puppies or adult dogs, there are two types of hypoallergenic food: wet and dry. Hypoallergenic dry food is easy to store and also helps your dog's oral health. At the same time, this type of dry food can also help your dog say goodbye to soft stools.
On the other hand, wet food is also a good choice if your dog doesn't like dry food or is not used to it. This type of hypoallergenic dog food can contain (depending on the manufacturer) more animal proteins, maintain a good level of hydration (it has more water), and help the urinary tract.
If you want to get your dog used to dry food or vice versa, you just have to start mixing new food with regular food. Start by introducing small portions of the new food into its regular diet for about five to seven days.
You can start by replacing 20% of its regular food with the new type of food and mix them together. Gradually increase the portion of the new food until you are feeding your pet 100% of the new type of food.
It is not difficult at all to support a dog with a sensitive stomach or food allergy if you feed it a hypoallergenic diet.
What is the Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food & Treats?
Does your dog have a food allergy, or maybe just a sensitive stomach? Wilder Harrier offers the best hypoallergenic diets and treats for all dogs, from puppies to adults.
Their diets are complete and balanced, offering your pet all the essential nutrients it needs to lead a healthy life. Wilder Harrier dog food is prepared with high quality ingredients, unique proteins, and has added vitamins and minerals. Dogs of all ages can benefit from insect dog food and fish dog food.
Your dog does not have to be allergic to consume these diets and treats. You can try puppy fish food or insect food or adult fish food or insect food. These diets contain unique proteins like black soldier flies or Asian carp.
Farmed Insects Recipe for puppies or adult dogs is a hypoallergenic diet prepared from black soldier flies, other hypoallergenic ingredients (sweet potatoes, peas, lentils, and coconut), and vitamins and minerals.
Insect dog food is a good source of protein, amino acids, and calcium, and its taste is no different from standard dog food. Your pup or adult dog will love it!
Sustainable Fish Recipe for puppies or adult dogs contains Asian carp (the silver variety) as its first ingredient, lentils, peas, coconut, blueberries, and chickpeas, all being hypoallergenic ingredients that can help your allergic dog. The Asian carp is similar to salmon from a nutritional point of view, being rich in fatty acids and animal protein. This fish diet can help improve your dog's allergy symptoms, especially those that involve the skin and fur.
Both diets will help your pet improve the symptoms associated with its food allergy or a sensitive stomach. Say goodbye to soft stools, vomiting, hair loss, and excessive scratching! Just make sure you choose the right type of hypoallergenic diet for your dog’s age!
What works best with a healthy diet? Healthy, delicious treats! You can try dog treats or dental sticks or both! Whatever suits your dog!
The wide variety of treats will make even the pickiest dogs happy. If your dog does not like regular treats, you can try cricket treats, vegan treats, or treats with seaweed. They are healthy and hypoallergenic, and even your allergic dog can enjoy them!
Dental sticks come in two sizes and are suited for all dog breeds. They are prepared from brown algae and other high-quality ingredients and will keep your dog's teeth and mouth healthy.
About The Writer:
Dr. Iulia Mihai is an experienced veterinarian, researcher, and medicine. She did her Bachelor's in veterinary medicine followed by a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Veterinary Medicine, and has over 10 years of experience in the field, she knows her way around animals. In addition to working with animals at a vet clinic, she also helps the team at Wilder Harrier help dog parents on topics such as health, allergies, diet, and care for pets.
